Meet-and-Greet Calls with Clinicians
Many clinicians offer a brief 10–15 minute phone consultation before scheduling a full intake. You might hear this called a consultation call, intro call, or meet-and-greet.
This complimentary call allows you to determine whether the clinician and practice are the right fit for your child and family.
What Is the Purpose?
A meet-and-greet allows you to:
Briefly describe your concerns
Learn about the clinician’s background and approach
Ask key questions
Clarify next steps (e.g., therapy, parent consultation, neuropsychological evaluation, or monitoring)
It is not:
A full intake
A diagnostic appointment
A therapy session
Because it’s only 10–15 minutes, you don’t need to share your child’s entire history. That will be covered during a formal intake, if you move forward.
How to Prepare
Before the call, consider:
1–2 primary concerns (e.g., anxiety, mood, attention, school performance, peer relationships)
What you’re hoping for (e.g., coping tools, academic guidance, diagnostic evaluation, parent consultation)
Any specific questions about process, logistics, or philosophy
Questions You May Consider Asking
Choose what feels most relevant.
Approach
How would you describe your therapeutic or evaluation approach?
What does a typical session (or evaluation process) look like?
How do you set goals and measure progress?
Experience
What is your training and area of specialization?
What is your experience with children in similar schools?
What is your experience with concerns similar to ours?
Recommendations
Based on what I’ve shared, would you suggest therapy, parent guidance, an evaluation, or another approach?
How do you determine when a neuropsychological evaluation is warranted?
Parent Involvement
What does parent involvement look like?
How and how often do you communicate progress?
How do you collaborate with schools, if needed?
What to Notice
Beyond the content of the conversation, pay attention to whether it feels like the best fit for you. The quality of the therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes.
Looking for a quick, easy-to-use version? Download our free condensed guide with the key takeaways from this post.
